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Pakistan Food & Cuisine Guide

Geographical location plays its part in Pakistani food. Pashtuns and Baluchis who live near the Afghan border have retained the flavours of their western neighbours whereas Punjabis, Sindhis and Muhajirs eat food similar to what is offered in the east - rich, spicy Indian food. As expected, when recipes are imported, they are transformed to suit the local palate, making the dishes unique.

Magnificent Meats
A traveller finds a magnificent variety of meats in Pakistan. A meal without meat would not be considered fit enough to be served to a guest, though vegetables and lentils and freshly baked wheat bread, called roti, is a staple on the table. The food is spicy by most western standards. Besides native food, American fast food and Chinese cuisine have also made their presence felt in major cities.
Most of the cuisine is Mughlai (influenced by Mughal rulers), which is distinguished by a rich, spicy curry that is the base of most of the dishes, be it butter chicken, gosht masala (literally spicy meat), lamb curry, or various vegetarian dishes. Rice takes on an exotic form when it becomes biryani (meat - mutton or chicken - cooked in yoghurt and rice). Spinach and lamb come together as sag gosht, and dry, charcoal grilled dishes include the famous tandoori chicken (full chicken) and chicken tikkas (quarters), shish kebabs, (skewered grilled meat), shami kebabs (chopped meat patties), and tikka kebabs (spicy lamb pieces).
Pakistanis are mostly meat lovers. There is an enormous and enticing variety of meats, cooked in a variety of styles which tempt the palate. The vegetarian fare often takes a back-seat, and strict vegetarians need to be careful and ask questions about the manner in which food has been prepared.

Royal Desserts
Imperial Mughal delicacies are reflected in Pakistani desserts like shahi tukray (literally royal portions of fried bread cooked in milk and served in a thick syrup with nut and saffron toppings), firni (a rice and milk concoction with more than a passing resemblance to vanilla custard), and halwa (a sweetmeat staple whose ingredients include milk, carrots, maize cream and nuts)

Drinks
Strong and sweet tea is definitely a national drink of Pakistan. It is illegal to drink liquor in public. In fact, there are no bars and visitors can drink only in specified hotels, and that too only if they have a Liquor Permit issued by the Excise and Taxation Office. Choice of alcoholic drinks is limited and wine is both expensive and difficult to get. Locally brewed beer is, however, widely available.